Photo-op: Youth seek MPPs help to 'pull down' flavoured tobacco

TORONTO, Nov. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Young advocates from the Canadian Cancer Society's Big Tobacco Lies campaign will be on hand at Queen's Park to urge politicians to reintroduce legislation to ban flavoured tobacco products in Ontario. Youth will be seeking MPPs' help in taking down the tobacco industry by attending their interactive tug of war. At the activity youth will be pitted against others who will pretend to be tobacco industry executives and flavoured tobacco products.

Following the activity youth advocates will meet with MPPs and drop off thousands of postcards collected from various campaign events from across the province throughout the year.

Research shows that flavoured tobacco products are appealing to young people and can encourage youth experimentation. Half of all youth smokers have used flavoured tobacco products. Flavoured tobacco is the leading issue for the youth Big Tobacco Lies campaign.

Queen's ParkOutside grounds, south side 111 Wellesley Street West Toronto, ON M7A 1A4

Photo/video and interview opportunities:

Youth-led interactive tug of war photo-op

Shadi Mousavi Nia, Andreé-Anne McPhail and Janika Francis, Society youth volunteers will be available at the event for interviews.

About the Big Tobacco Lies campaignBig Tobacco Lies is a youth-led awareness and advocacy campaign created by motivated youth from all over Ontario and funded by the Canadian Cancer Society. The campaign aims to expose the sneaky and deceptive tactics used by the tobacco industry to recruit new smokers and is calling for a ban on all flavoured tobacco products in Ontario.For more information, please visit cancer.ca/BigTobaccoLies

About the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario DivisionThe Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization dedicated to preventing cancer, saving lives and supporting people living with cancer through research funding, services and advocacy. We are Canada's largest charity fighting all types of cancer and leading authority on cancer statistics and information. To learn more, call 1 888 939-3333 or visit cancer.ca.